France wildfires burn twice as much land as last year: official

PARIS: Wildfires have scorched twice as much land in France so far this year as in the same period last year, an official said on Friday.

The European nation is facing its third heatwave since May, with a part of western France under the more severe heat warning on Friday and fires raging in several parts of the country over the past week.

It is the latest such deadly episode of extreme weather, whose increasing frequency in recent decades scientists have linked to man-made climate change.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have recorded a little over 8,000 fire outbreaks in our country, affecting an estimated burnt area of more than 25,000 hectares,” director general of civil security Julien Marion said.

That is equivalent to nearly 62,000 acres or more than 35,700 football pitches.